A sublime piece of sterling silver and clear crystal jewelry. The unique feature of this piece is its transformable nature: an ingenious clasp allows the central part of the necklace to be removed, so the brooch can be worn alone.
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Necklace dimensions: 7 × 5 in
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Brooch dimensions: 1 × 3 in
About the artist
Georges Delrue (1920–2010) was a renowned jeweler and silversmith. Born in Tourcoing, France, he established himself as one of Canada's most important jewelry artists. A prominent figure in the visual arts, he paved the way for modernity and avant-garde jewelry in Quebec.
Career and training
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Early career: He apprenticed with Gabriel Lucas and attended the École du Meuble and the École des beaux-arts de Montréal.
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Automatists: He associated with leading figures such as Paul-Émile Borduas and Jean-Paul Pellan.
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Workshop: He opened his own workshop in 1947 and quickly became a leader and mentor to many European jewelers established in Montreal.
Style and technique
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Biomorphism: From the late 1940s, his creations were distinguished by biomorphic forms inspired by Jean Arp and Joan Miró.
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Materials: He is renowned for his masterful work with gold, silver, and platinum, combining technical finesse with artistic daring.
Influence
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Local impact: His home and workshop were long a major artistic hub. His wife, Denyse Delrue, opened the famous Galerie Denyse Delrue there in 1957 to promote Quebec's emerging artistic talent.
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Museum collections: His avant-garde works are preserved in prestigious institutions, including the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.
He spent the end of his life in Val-Morin, in the Laurentians, with his partner and artistic accomplice Luci Veilleux, before his death in 2010 in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts.